Japanese musical duo (1999-)
Sukima Switch (スキマスイッチ) is a Japanese rock/jazz fusion duo consisting of core members Takuya Ōhashi (大橋卓弥, Ōhashi Takuya), born May 9, 1978, and Shintarō Tokita (常田真太郎, Tokita Shintarō), born February 25, 1978, formed in 1999. Formerly with BMG Japan (bought by SMEJ in early 2009), they signed with Sony Music Japan's Ariola Japan label in September 2009.
History
Ōhashi's musical duties include vocals, guitar, and harmonica, while Tokita plays piano/keyboards, numerous other instruments, and oversees overall production. Most of the other instrumentation heard on their albums is handled by guests and studio musicians. In this sense, their band structure and chemistry could be compared to that of the American group Steely Dan. Their style is very heavily jazz influenced (another similarity with Steely Dan), yet it retains core pop elements and catchy melodies that have proved popular with Japanese audiences.
In popular culture
Many of Sukima Switch's songs have appeared in anime and video games. Ōhashi also covered the song "Katamari on the Swing" in the PlayStation 3 game Katamari Forever.
- Their second single, "Kanade", was covered by Sora Amamiya and Rie Takahashi for the ending themes to the anime series One Week Friends and Teasing Master Takagi-san 2, respectively.[1] The song was also used as the theme song for the live-action adaptation of One Week Friends.[2]
- Their fifth single, "Zenryoku Shounen", is featured as the first song in the Nintendo DS game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, which was released in Japan on May 17, 2007. The song is also in the expansion pack to the Nintendo DS game Daigasso! Band Brothers. The song was re-released for the Japanese release of Disney and Pixar's 2020 film Onward.
- Their seventh single, "Boku Note", was also used as the theme song for Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006.
- The eighth single, "Guarana" is the theme song of the film adaptation of Rough, with their second, third and fifth singles used as inserts.
- The song "Shizuku" is the opening theme for the anime adaptation of the novel series The Beast Player.
- Their 12th single, "Golden Time Lover", is the third opening of the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
- Their 13th single, "Ice Cream Syndrome", is the ending theme of the Pokémon movie Phantom Ruler: Zoroark.
- Their 17th single, "Eureka", is the second opening to the anime Space Brothers.
- Their 19th single, "Hello Especially", is the ending song to the anime Silver Spoon.
- Their 20th single, "Ah Yeah!!", is the second opening to the anime Haikyuu!!.
- Their 22nd single, "Hoshi no Utsuwa" (星のうつわ), is the ending theme song for the anime film The Last: Naruto the Movie.[3]
- Their 23rd single, "LINE", is the eighteenth opening to the anime Naruto Shippuden.[4]
